International Plastic Modelers' Society / USA

International Plastic Modelers' Society / USA

IPMS/USA

IPMS/USA

IndyCals 1/110 Mercury Capsule

Forums - Mon, 12/01/2025 - 15:36
I just finished up the Revell "Everything is Go! kit and I would really like to put an IndyCals capsule on it. I have one on the Revell 1/110 Mercury/Redstone that I finished a few years ago. I really like the look of that capsule. IndyCals used Shapeways for their printer, and the capsule on the IndyCals site is still linked to Shapeways. I reached out to IndyCals, but have not received a response. Does anyone have one in their stash that they would like to sell or does anyone know of a new 3D print that's available? Thanks!

When ICM started to release its family of B-26 models and variants, it was well received by modelers the world over as the old Monogram’s kit was released in 1978, 47 years ago. And at some point, they were going to release Flak Bait and they did and I...

Landing Page Reviews - Mon, 12/01/2025 - 00:00

When ICM started to release its family of B-26 models and variants, it was well received by modelers the world over as the old Monogram’s kit was released in 1978, 47 years ago. And at some point, they were going to release Flak Bait and they did and I jumped on the opportunity to review it. A little background on Flak Bait- it was given the name by its first pilot, James Farrell who adapted the nick name from his dog, flea bait. It then ran 202 bombing missions over France, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium and survived the war intact and holds the record for number of bombing missions survived. And not one crew member was killed during that time and only one was injured even though it landed on one engine twice, lost its electrical and hydraulic systems twice and ended up with over 1000 holes that needed patched.

Preview: Airscale's complete 32nd-scale Typhoon test shot build...

The Modelling News - Sun, 11/30/2025 - 21:52
A test build of what looks like Airscale's final rendering of the 32nd-scale Typhoon has just been posted and it sure looks great. We have details on the kit, along with the artwork poster & other details in our preview...Read on... »
Categories: News

BPOTA Alpha Omega Missile

Forums - Sun, 11/30/2025 - 11:32
This latest kit is an offering from Fantastic Plastic. It is the Alpha & Omega Doomsday Missile seen at the end of the 1970 film Beneath the Planet of the Apes. In the first "Planet of the Apes" sequel, "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" (1970), the stranded human astronauts find a community of mutant humans living in the ruined subway system of the former New York City. Their ancestors having survived the nuclear apocalypse that destroyed the surface world, they reverently worship one of the last remaining artifacts of that bygone time -- a "Doomsday Bomb" bearing the ominous "Alpha-Omega" symbol. The kit is 12 parts in 1:24th scale. It looks much taller than it's 12" height. It is all 3D printed with all the attachment points cleaned off, but I gave it a light sanding anyway. It's not often that you get a garage kit. Leave all the parts in the box, shake it and it builds itself. This IS one of those kits. According to FP, it's a simple mock-ICBM (albeit it scaled down for filming purposes) with added fuselage texture and a pair of fins, the missile also has a weird hook on its upper body, its only function that of an easy point where the invading ape army can latch their ropes and bring the doomsday weapon crashing to the ground. Looking at the missile and the hook, there's no way it would last 10 minutes before I accidentally break it off, so into the parts box it went. And in one day the model was done. Next I started looking at the painting. The instructions says it's a golden color. But looking at the screen grabs of the movie (image above), it looked more to me like a silver or chrome with some orange tarnish on it. Since it's my model that's the way I'm going. I got out my trusted Rustoleum Chrome paint and gave it a shot. Looks great. I left it for a few days for the chrome to cure, and then hit with with a thinned sepia wash. That did little to nothing, So I decided to give in a little and added a mist coat of a gold from Vallejo. Adding a little more at the bottom I was happy with the result. while I was letting this last paint coat cure, I had to address the decals. FP uses an excellent printer, but being so thin, it needs a coat of Microscale's Decal Film. While the decal film is drying, I decided it's a good time to take break and think about the base. The kit comes with a small diameter 3D printed base, but I was thinking more of something like the set in the film. Check back for that soon. Thanks for looking.

Shipping Resumes To The U.S.: KITMASX Update

Plastic Model Mojo - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 22:00

Big news for modelers who’ve been waiting on cross-border orders: Kit Mask is shipping to the United States again, and the process is finally simple, transparent, and predictable. We sit down with Kevin to unpack how tariffs forced a pause, why Canada Post’s suggested “solutions” came up short, and how Janelle engineered a multi-service workflow that calculates duties at checkout so there are no surprise bills after delivery.

We walk through the hard lessons of cross-border ecommerce: why unclear rules make risk management nearly impossible, how horror stories from carriers shaped the plan, and what it takes to test, refine, and relaunch without leaving customers guessing. Kevin shares early results from the reboot—clean deliveries, happy customers, and order volume ramping back to where it left off. We also talk openly about capacity, production catch-up, and the real people behind the scenes who keep a small brand moving.

Looking ahead, we’re gearing up for HeritageCon with full stock and on-the-ground support at the booth, plus a spotlight on One-Man Army products. As the exclusive Canadian dealer for new One-Man Army releases, Kit Mask will bring sought-after detail sets and precision tools directly to local builders. To celebrate the shipping comeback and ease the tariff sting, we’re rolling out a December-long sale with a clear promise: no panic, no rush, just fair prices and time to choose. Use the code MOJO30 for 30% off throughout December and get your bench ready for a strong finish to the year.

If you care about reliable shipping, transparent costs, and quality masking solutions that make paint work clean and fast, this conversation is for you.

Subscribe, share with a modeling friend, and leave a review to help more builders discover the show—and the savings.


KITMASX  - Use Discount Code MOJO30 for 30% off your order through the month of December

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Categories: Podcast

MGPC Episode 114 How to Paint Realistic Natural Metal Finishes with Guest Host Jeremy Moore.

ModelGeek's Podcast - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 08:00

What’s Crack-a-Lack’n Modelgeeks! Welcome to Episode 114 of The Modelgeeks Podcast!
 
 In this episode, the Modelgeeks are joined by the one and only Jeremy Moore from Lehigh Valley Scale Modelers. The Geeks  take a lap in the pattern and say what is the latest and greatest in their model worlds. Jeremy introduces himself to the geeks and shares what he likes to build, his favorite subjects and gives a run down o how he does his amazing natural metal finishes. 

The Geeks run through the listener email and discuss their favorite listener gallery submissions. With this episode this will close out Season 5 of the MGPC and we can’t thank our listeners and sponsors enough, thank you guys! Be sure to keep the emails and gallery pics coming and we will keep updating the website during the break. Enjoy the holiday season with your friends and families and we look forward to seeing everyone next year! Out from the Geeks, Later! You can still interact with us through social media, Facebook, Instagram, and email:  contact@modelgeekspodcast.com

 

Be sure to check out our website: www.modelgeekspodcast.com.
 
 


 Make sure you check out our new group / community on Facebook, The ModelGeeks Model Shack

 

Jeremy Moore’s club page: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=lehigh%20valley%20scale%20modelers

 

We also want to thank each of our sponsors for their support. We are very lucky to have their support. When you have the time, pay a visit to their web sites, and have a look at their fine products.

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We are very fortunate to be able to join the scale modeling podcast community and are in the company of several other really GREAT podcasts. Hopefully, someday we’ll earn our wings and be able to keep up with those guys!  Please check them all out at Scale Model Podcasts.

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Categories: Podcast

From the Manufacturer’s Website:

Landing Page Reviews - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 00:00

From the Manufacturer’s Website:

OTB 227: Accessorising your armour model.

On the Bench Podcast - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 20:43

In this episode the boys are once again joined with Rob Riviezzo to talk about accessorising your armour model in a discussion that hits the mark now and again but certainly in a very entertaining way.

Don't forget to support the sponsor of our show Scott from the Scale Modellers Supply

https://www.scalemodeller.com.au/

Leave us a message, comment or even ask a question, we would love to hear from you! Write to Onthebench64@gmail.com.

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Categories: Podcast

Preview: MiniArt's 1/35th scale RSO/01 Early Prod. w/ 7.5 cm Pak.40 & Crew

The Modelling News - Fri, 11/28/2025 - 05:59
MiniArt combines the "early" 1/35th scale Raupenschlepper OST RSO/01 with the PAK.40 gun & crew in their latest all-in-one box. We look at the contents in our preview...Read on... »
Categories: News

Read n' reviewed: SCALE IT! #03 by Plastic Invasion

The Modelling News - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 07:49
The third issue of the new series by Plastic Invasion, "SCALE-IT!", featuring the best in reference, history, recreation & figure painting for the modeller & enthusiast. Volume #3 in our review today...Read on... »
Categories: News

Conquer Fear By Doing, with Tim Nelson: Episode 152

Plastic Model Mojo - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 00:00

What if the fastest way to level up your modeling wasn’t waiting to “get better,” but picking a fear and building straight through it? That’s the heart of this episode, where we sit down with Seattle modeler Tim Nelson to explore an intentional, cross-genre approach that turned anxiety into momentum. From smart starter ships and museum deadlines to vacform methods and CAD-assisted conversions, we share practical systems that help you finish more models and have more fun doing it.

We open with show travel, stash-thinning honesty, and some cottage-industry collabs that could turn obscure fasteners and conversions into real products. Then we dive into Tim’s roadmap for facing “big scary” subjects: choosing a stepping-stone container ship before tackling USS Tennessee, curating rotating Museum of Flight displays that reward clarity over micro-perfection, and using mentorship to demystify vacforms with repeatable techniques. You’ll hear how disasters are normal, how to hide mistakes well, and why museum quality and contest quality are different—in a good way.

There’s also a love letter to weird and wonderful subjects, like a 1/72 “Old Bill” London bus converted into a WWI pigeon loft, complete with delicate 3D-printed birds. Tim explains how small, story-rich builds strengthen composition, finishing, and research skills that transfer across aircraft, armor, ships, and figures. We round things out with a first foray into CAD and resin printing—a custom bullet nose for a Lockheed Vega—and big ambitions for RMS Olympic in dazzle camouflage. Along the way, we tackle club-building tips, listener mail from Bali to Terre Haute, and a few favorite new releases (plus a gentle rant on 3D-figure accuracy).

If you’re looking for a spark to get back to the bench—or permission to try something you’ve always wanted—this one’s for you. Hit play, subscribe, and share your next “fear target” with us. What bold build are you starting this week?

Northwest Scale Modelers
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Bump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed Baroth
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Mike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.

Categories: Podcast

Two Italeri truck kits for free

Forums - Tue, 11/25/2025 - 15:30
Am posting for a friend who has an Italeri MBZ and an Italeri Opel Blitz that he is willing to give free for the asking. If you are interested call Jim at 909-335-3172. this is a land line so no texting, please. Kits are open but appear to be complete. Charlie IPMS 39729

Being half English, I have an affinity for English aircraft. I have loved the Bristol Beaufort ever since reading Torpedo Bomber by Ralph Barker many decades ago.The Beaufort was developed from the Blenheim bomber to meet a tendered specification for a...

Landing Page Reviews - Tue, 11/25/2025 - 00:00

Being half English, I have an affinity for English aircraft. I have loved the Bristol Beaufort ever since reading Torpedo Bomber by Ralph Barker many decades ago.

The Beaufort was developed from the Blenheim bomber to meet a tendered specification for a land-based, twin-engine torpedo bomber. Later on the wings and tail of the Beaufort were used to develop the Beaufighter. Decent mileage, in my opinion.

The Beaufort saw stellar service operating from the Home Islands, the Mediterranean, the Pacific and the Far East.

Airframe Detail No.10 follows the standard format Valiant Wings uses for this series, starting with a brief history which covers the areas of operations, the different countries who flew it, survivors and serial numbers.

This is the first Detail & Scale book I have ever read, and after this wonderful experience, it will not be my last. In fact, I may have to start a reference collection. Even more impressive is that I don’t identify as primarily an aircraft modeler,...

Landing Page Reviews - Tue, 11/25/2025 - 00:00

This is the first Detail & Scale book I have ever read, and after this wonderful experience, it will not be my last. In fact, I may have to start a reference collection. Even more impressive is that I don’t identify as primarily an aircraft modeler, but the photographs, captions and background information are so well done and presented, that I may have to start looking for models of aircraft highlighted in these fabulous books.

From the Detail & Scale website,

Preview: Two new kits from Trumpeter in December...

The Modelling News - Mon, 11/24/2025 - 07:25
Trumpeter's two kits of December – the USS Stevens & a 35th scale “ELEFANT” (with trailer). We have colours, decals & a built-up kit in our preview...Read on... »
Categories: News

Chipping is storytelling at its core, which is why we start our modeling journey developing these skills to foster a broad range of looks … Michael RinaldiTG/01 Chipping is the first book in a new series of technical guides by Michael Rinaldi in...

Landing Page Reviews - Mon, 11/24/2025 - 00:00

Chipping is storytelling at its core, which is why we start our modeling journey developing these skills to foster a broad range of looks … Michael Rinaldi

TG/01 Chipping is the first book in a new series of technical guides by Michael Rinaldi in partnership with AMMO by MiG. The book is packed with excellent photos illustrating the weathering process of reductive chipping on scale models. Step by step photos illustrate the chipping process, and diagrams clearly describe the layering of paints.

Rinaldi Studio Press has announced a subsequent book in the series, TG/02 on Oil Paint Rendering (OPR).

Special Hobby 1:72 Spitfire F. Mk. 21

Forums - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 20:20
Started and finished in the same calendar year! This is the Special Hobby kit, which is the basis of a bunch of Griffon-powered Spitfire kits. I took off the Seafire-specific features (the RATO attachments, primarily) and detailed the cockpit with Special Hobby's own photoetched set, plus a Barracuda Studios control column. The exhausts are from Quickboost and the wheels and from Barracuda Studios. I used the kit decals to build Roy Cruickshank's N0. 91 Squadron aircraft in which he was shot down by flak on April 10, 1945; he and his wingman were rescued by a USAAF OA-10 Catalina. Only 120 Mk. 21s were built - it debuted the new laminar flow wing, full wheel covers and a retractable tail wheel. The paints were ModelMaster dark green and ocean grey, with Floquil medium sea grey, all from my Museum of Extinct Paints (aka Evidence I Used to Habitually Overpurchase at the Hobby Shop). It was weathered with oils - I tried to keep it light since the plane didn't last more than three missions.

ICM continues to be prolific with both kits and paint sets. The Acrylic Paint Set for WWII RAF Coastal Command aircraft continues this trend and consists of six 12ml wide mouthed paint bottles. The front packaging includes a presentation of a Bristol...

Landing Page Reviews - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 00:00

ICM continues to be prolific with both kits and paint sets. The Acrylic Paint Set for WWII RAF Coastal Command aircraft continues this trend and consists of six 12ml wide mouthed paint bottles. The front packaging includes a presentation of a Bristol Beaufort Mk.1A WWII British torpedo bomber. The back shows three left-profile views of Bristol Beauforts, including Mk.1.A DX 135 in Temperate Scheme (1940-44) of German Field Grey (Green) and Dark Grey over Sky (Kit No. 48315), Mk.1A LR906 Late Coastal Command (1944-45) Coastal White with Off White with Dark Grey on top of fuselage and wings (Kit No. 48315) in, and Mk.1 L4516 OA-W Temperate Land Scheme of Leather Brown and Extra Dark Green over Black (Kit No. 48310) with color callouts.

The colors include:

The Duke's Shipyards Launch Two Ships in November

Forums - Sat, 11/22/2025 - 15:50
Hello all! These were finished at the beginning of the month, but I've had no chance to post them until now. Here are the latest ships to be launched from our Shipyards: Airfix 1/600 scale British heavy cruiser HMS Tiger: Trumpeter 1/700 scale French Battleship Jean Bart: And that's all for now. Hopefully more will be finished soon. Thank you for looking in and comments are welcome

Preview: MiniArt's 1/35th scale US Repairmen get to work...

The Modelling News - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 05:42
MiniArt looks to fix some things with their latest set of four US repairmen from WWII in 35th scale. We take a look at them in our preview.Read on... »
Categories: News